Sport in Brief: Froch overpowers negative Dirrell

Boxing: It was not the fight many expected but it was the fight Carl Froch prepared for and he retained his World Boxing Council super-middleweight title by a split decision against American Andre Dirrell in Nottingham on Saturday.

Unbeaten Dirrell, expected to roll over at the first sign of aggro, fought a clever if negative fight to frustrate Froch, but it requires two to tangle in any decent prize-fight and Dirrell was reluctant to get involved for most of the 12 rounds. Steve Bunce

Westwood claims title after two-year drought

Golf: After three play-off defeats, two near-misses in majors and 26 top-10 finishes since his last win, Lee Westwood was finally back lifting a trophy last night. He ended more than two years without a title by capturing the Portugal Masters by two shots from Italian Francesco Molinari and four from Padraig Harrington. The added bonus – he would have been happy to win the smallest event – was the massive prize of nearly £458,000, taking him from fourth to first on the European money list.